Food Standards

We monitor food standards in a variety of ways:

Inspection and Sampling

We carry out programmed inspections and sampling throughout the food chain, from farms through to manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and caterers. We aim to ensure the composition, quality, labelling, advertising and presentation of food complies with legal requirements so you can have confidence in the food you buy.

Complaints and Enquiries

If you have a complaint or concern regarding food or drink you have purchased, or a meal you have eaten, please contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06 or visit www.adviceguide.org.uk They will provide initial advice and if the matter requires further investigation, your complaint or concern will be referred to the relevant Trading Standards Service. As a result of receiving a referral from the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline we may visit the Trader to investigate and depending on what we find, the action we take will vary from giving advice and/or education through to prosecution. If your complaint concerns the safety of hygiene or food, or the presence of foreign bodies such as an insect, plastic, glass or metal, we would ask you to contact the Environmental Health Department at your local District or Borough Council.

Food Alerts

We respond to food alerts issued by the Food Standards Agency. These alert local authorities to any problems associated with food and often relate to a product withdrawal or recall by a manufacturer or retailer.